Who doesn’t have that drawer at home filled with random cables that only work with who knows which past phone? Wouldn’t it be nice to have one charger that works for everything? That’s where wireless charging comes in.
Wireless chargers are convenient, stylish, and easy to use. But, you may still have some questions like how does wireless charging work? Is wireless charging safe? What are the benefits of wireless charging? And will my phone wirelessly charge? Don’t worry we’ll give you the full scoop on wireless charging and answer all of your questions.
How does wireless charging work?
Is it magic? Close, it’s science!
Your wireless charger comes with a built-in transmitter, and phones with wireless charging come with a built-in receiver. The transmitter in the charger connects to the receiver in the back of your phone and creates a magnetic field which the receiver then converts into electricity to charge the battery.
With most current, easily available wireless chargers, the transmitter and receiver must be close together in order for the charger to work. This is why phones must be aligned properly on the charger. This is also why most newer phones are made with a glass back instead of metal, as the metal back blocks the connection between the transmitter and receiver. However, most cases do not block the connection, so you usually don’t need to remove your case for it to work.
One term you may have seen in relation to wireless charging is “Qi certified”. No, that’s not a typo. Qi refers to an interface standard for wireless charging. Having a standard ensures that the charger and phone are compatible and wireless charging will work properly. Qi is the standard Apple uses for its wireless charging compatible devices. Samsung and Pixel have also made their devices compatible with Qi which has made it the industry standard. When looking for a wireless charger look for the phrase “Qi certified” or “For Qi compatible devices.” This will ensure that your charger will work properly.
Is wireless charging safe?
When it comes to new or unfamiliar technology, the first thought for many people is if it’s safe for humans to be around. When it comes to wireless charging, the answer is definitively, yes, it’s absolutely safe. The electromagnetic field produced isn’t strong enough to have an effect on a person. This technology has also been used for decades in electric toothbrushes, with no issues.
The next question you may be thinking is: Is wireless charging safe for my phone? The answer to that question is also yes. Wireless charging does not affect your battery any differently than regular charging. What will affect your battery is charging habits.
Most phone batteries are designed to retain at least 80% of their charging capacity for 500 charging cycles. A charging cycle means that you’ve discharged 100% of your battery. This doesn’t have to happen all at once. You can use 30% off your battery one day, charge it, and then use 70% off your battery the next day and that is one charging cycle.
Most experts then agree that it’s best to keep your phone charged between 20% and 80% at all times, so charging a little throughout the day is the most ideal. This makes wireless charging the best choice. If you have a wireless charger at home, on your desk at work, and in your car, you can charge your phone a little at a time for optimal battery health.
Wireless charging is slower than regular charging (you can get QC adapters that will allow for a quick charging), but it allows you to pick up your phone, use it, and then set it back down without being tethered to a cable. And because you're more likely to be charging it periodically throughout the day, it really doesn’t matter that it’s a little slower.
Benefits of wireless charging
Wireless charging has many benefits that don’t come with using a regular charging cable.
- It’s Convenient - You can keep a sleek, minimal charging pad on your desk, nightstand or side table, and all you have to do is place your phone down to charge. And if you need to use it? Just pick it back up! No annoying cables.
- No damage to charging port - Plugging in your phone constantly can actually start to cause damage to the charging port on your phone from constant use. Switching to wireless charging would eliminate this problem.
- No frayed cables - Speaking of damage, it’s so easy for charging cables to bend and frey and become useless. With a wireless charger, you don’t have to worry about this.
- Optimal for battery health - Ultimately, wireless charging is the best option for optimal battery health because it allows you to conveniently charge your phone periodically throughout the day in between it being used.
Which phones can use wireless charging?
Now that you’ve learned all about wireless charging, you’re probably wondering if your phone is compatible with it. The good news is that most new androids and iPhones are compatible with wireless charging, but we’ve broken down exactly which iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxy devices are compatible with wireless charging.
iPhone - 12/12 Max/12 Pro/12 Pro Max, 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max, X/XR/XS/XS Max, 8/8 Plus
Pixel - 4/4 XL, 3/3 XL
Galaxy - S20/S20+/S20 Ultra, S10e/S10/S10+, Note10/Note10+, S9/S9+, Note9, S8/S8 Plus, Note8, S8/S8+, S7/S7 edge, Note5, S6/S6 edge/S6 edge +
Frequently Asked Questions About Wireless Charging
My phone is compatible with wireless charging, but why won’t it work?
Most likely it’s not working because something is interfering with the connection between your phone and the charger. The most common culprits are ring grips, magnets, or super thick cases.
Is wireless charging safe?
Absolutely. It poses no danger to you or to your phone. It doesn’t affect your phone battery any differently than charging it with a cable.
Do I need a Qi certified charger?
Yes, if you want to ensure that it will work properly with your phone.
My phone doesn’t have wireless charging capabilities. Is there anything I can do to make it work?
Yes! You can buy a wireless charging adapter that plugs into your phone and then you can use your phone with a wireless charger.
